Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Hey Naomi!

This might be a long shot, but a friend asked me to check and see if you knew anyone who could identify the ladies in this picture, or know someone who can.

This photo, entitled "Six Women" (actress Vonetta McGee is second from the right) was taken by David S. Johnson, the premier chronicler of Black life in San Francisco in the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. Johnson photographed luminaries including Nat "King" Cole and Eartha Kitt and documented historic events including voter registration drives, the March on Washington and other activities in the Civil Rights Movement in the San Francisco area. Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1926, Mr. Johnson was the first Black student of photography icon Ansel Adams and a graduate of the first fine art photography program in the United States at California School of Fine Arts (now the San Francisco Art Institute). Today, Mr. Johnson is in his 80's and still lives and works in the Bay Area. Thanks to Maya DeRoche and Sally Dupre for the updated information.

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I saw this photo on Tumblr recently, described (incorrectly) as models in a fashion show in San Francisco's Union Square circa 1950s. This can't be the 1950s (it is definitely late 1960s) and I know this because of the presence of actress, Vonetta McGee (1945-2010) who is second from the right. If anyone has any further information on this shot (photographer, names of the other models) please let me know in the comment section.

5 comments:

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I'm afraid I do not know who any of these women are. (Not sure I would have recognized Vonetta McGee from this period..)..This probably was a "Fashion Show" sometime in the mid 1960's....
You might write try to contact the photographer---He might be able to pin-point exactly when this was and who all the ladies are.
Sorry I am of no real help here and unfortunately I don't know anyone at this time who might be able to identify some or all of these woman....Let me give it some more thought.

Shammickite said...

I have no idea who these smartly dressed ladies might be, but they are all absolutely gorgeous!

VV said...

Thanks Naomi. I knew it was a long shot but figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

nbrsspot.blogspot.com said...

They are wonderful looking ladies though. Hey there miss your comments but I havent blogged in months. I am about ready to post a post though tonight. If I have time. I wanted to get my comp done tonight for this week.

VV said...

Tweetie, have gotten ridiculously busy again, so I haven't been posting regularly. Will check out your post soon.

CK, here’s the tattoo

  From sketch to transfer to tattoo